Love beyond the surface

Strengths
1. *Immersive world-building*: Your story has a richly detailed and immersive underwater world, full of magical creatures and hidden wonders.
2. *Romantic tension*: The forbidden love between Astrid and Aston creates a delicious tension that drives the story forward.
3. *Emotional depth*: The characters' emotions and motivations are well-explored, making it easy to become invested in their journey.

Weaknesses
1. *Pacing issues*: Some chapters feel a bit slow or repetitive, which can disrupt the story's flow.
2. *Convenient plot devices*: The crystal orb and the magical portal feel like convenient solutions to the characters' problems.
3. *Lack of conflict*: The story is relatively conflict-free, which can make it feel a bit too easy or straightforward.

Suggestions
1. *Vary sentence structure*: To improve pacing, try mixing up short and long sentences, as well as using different sentence structures.
2. *Add more tension and conflict*: Introduce more obstacles or challenges for the characters to overcome, which will make their ultimate triumph more satisfying.
3. *Show, don't tell*: Instead of telling the reader about the characters' emotions or motivations, show them through action, dialogue, and body language.

I hope these suggestions help! Do you have any questions or would you like more specific feedback?